System for trace gas detection

Claim 1

In a system for the substantially continuous detection of a plurality of trace species of interest in a gaseous sample mixture wherein said trace species of interest are of two types, namely, a first type which are readily ionizable and a second type which are recalcitrant or more difficult to ionize, said system comprising detector means including ionization means for ionizing trace species of said first type, detection means for detecting said trace species of interest in the ionized form, and sampling means for causing the continuous flow of said gaseous sample mixture to said detector means, the improvement comprising: reactant addition means for causing controlled intermittent introduction of a gaseous reactant species into said gaseous sample mixture at a controlled rate and for sequential controlled spaced intervals, said reactant species converting said recalcitrant trace species of said second type into readily ionizable species of said first type during the sequential spaced intervals of introduction of said reactant species; control means for said reactant addition means including timer means for alternately activating and deactivating said reaction addition means to control the sequential spaced intervals during which said reactant species is introduced in the manner of an on and off cycle basis such that said detector means is able to detect both type one and type two species substantially continually.